For All the People?

We’ve entered Christmas season here in the U.S. As a result, we often see and hear Bible verses like this one:

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; – Luke 2:10 (NASB)

Just yesterday, for example, a fundraising letter came from a Christian institution quoting this verse and highlighting the words “For All the People” in bold print at the very top. Yet I know the institution well enough to know that while the Scripture may mean “for all the people,” that institution doesn’t think that the good news applies to “all the people.” That is, they do not believe everyone is going to heaven. How then can they consider their message good news? And how can they quote the words “for all the people” and not recognize that their beliefs contradict those words – all while claiming that they are obeying the Bible?

Notwithstanding that institutions exclusivist views, the good news of God really is “for all the people.” That is, everyone is going to heaven.